Part 3
Fourth. A tender heart is inclined to frequently commune with God, while someone who is hardened, although possessing the seed of grace, will be content to go on for days, eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, and going about their business without Him (Isa 17:10; Jer 2:32).
Fifth. A tender heart is an alert and vigilant heart. It watches against sin in the soul, sin in the family, sin in one's vocation, sin in spiritual duties and performances, and so on. It watches against Satan, against the world, against the flesh, and more. However, when the heart is not tender, there is drowsiness, inattentiveness, idleness, allowing the heart, family, and vocation to be greatly stained, tainted,
and marred by sin. A hardened heart drifts away from God and deviates in all these matters.
Sixth. A tender heart will practice self-denial, even in lawful matters, and will refrain from doing something if it might offend or weaken a fellow believer, whether Jewish, Gentile, or a member of the Church of God. In contrast, a Christian who lacks tenderness, who has lost their tenderness, is so far from denying themselves in lawful things that they would even venture into forbidden territory, regardless of who is offended, grieved, or weakened by it. As an example of this, we need not look any further than the man in the text who, while he was tender, trembled at trivial matters. Yet, when his heart hardened, he took Bathsheba to satisfy his lust and killed her husband to cover his wickedness.
Seventh. A tender heart—more precisely, a heart kept tender— safeguards one from many blows, lashes, and paternal chastisements, because it avoids the causes, which are the sins that provoke the corrective hand of God. "With the pure, you show yourself pure, but with the crooked, you show yourself shrewd" (2 Sam 22:27; Psa 18:25–27).
Many unnecessary rebukes and wounds befall the saints of God due to their unwise behavior. When I say unnecessary, I mean that they are not required, except to bring us back from our vanities. We would not feel the pain of them if it were not for our foolishness. That is why the afflicted is called a fool, because their folly brings affliction upon them. "Fools," says David, "because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted" (Psa 107:17). And therefore, as mentioned before, he refers to his sin as his foolishness. And again, "God will speak peace unto his people and to his saints, but let them not turn again to folly" (Psa 38:5; 85:8). "If his children
transgress my laws, then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes" (Psa 89:30–32).
[How to keep the heart tender]
QUESTION: But what should a Christian do when God has broken their heart, to keep it tender? ANSWER: I will briefly address this. First, I will provide several cautions, and second, several directions.
[First—Several cautions]
1. Be careful not to suppress the convictions that currently break your heart by attempting to remove from your mind the things that caused such convictions. Instead, nourish and cherish those things in a deep and sober remembrance of them. Therefore, reflect upon this: What was it that initially wounded my heart? Let that remain until, by the grace of God and the redeeming blood of Christ, it is removed. 2. Avoid the company of the vain. Associating with vain company has suffocated many convictions, extinguished many desires, and caused many souls that were once fervent in seeking heaven to fall into hell. A companion who does not benefit the soul is harmful. "He who walks with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed" (Prov 13:20). 3. Beware of engaging in idle talk, whether hearing or participating in it. "Leave the presence of a foolish man when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge" (Prov 14:7). "Evil communications corrupt good manners, and a fool's lips are the snare of his soul." Therefore, be cautious of these things (Prov 18:7; 1 Cor 15:33). 4. Guard against the slightest inclination toward sin and do not entertain it, for by permitting that, you make way for something greater. David's eye led his heart astray, and his heart, nurturing
the thought, paved the way for the company of the woman, the act of adultery, and bloody murder. Therefore, be cautious, brothers and sisters, "lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb 3:12, 13). And remember that the one who wants to split a block starts with the thin end of the wedge and proceeds by driving it in. 5. Beware of bad examples among the godly; do not learn from anyone to do what the Word of God forbids. Sometimes Satan makes use of a good person's bad ways to corrupt and harden the hearts of those who follow. Peter's false actions almost corrupted Barnabas and several others. Therefore, be cautious of people, of the ways of good people, and measure both theirs and your own actions by no other standard than the holy Word of God (Gal 2:11–13). 6. Beware of unbelief or atheistic thoughts; do not question the truth and reality of heavenly things. Know that unbelief is the worst of evils, and a tender heart cannot be maintained if it nourishes or entertains unbelief. "Take heed, therefore, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God" (Heb 3:12). These cautions must be diligently observed by all those who desire to keep their hearts tender when they have been made so. And now, let us move on to...
[Second]—the Directions
1. Strive for a deep knowledge of God to keep it alive in your heart —knowledge of His presence, for He fills heaven and earth. "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord (Jer 23:24). (1.) Have knowledge of His penetrating gaze that scans the earth, beholding the evil and the good. His eyes see and His eyelids test the children of men (Prov 15:3). (2.) Know His power, that He is capable of turning heaven and earth into dust and ashes; they
are in His hands like a scroll or garment (Heb 1:11, 12). (3.) Understand His justice, that the rebukes of it are like devouring fire (Heb 12:19). (4.) Embrace knowledge of His faithfulness in fulfilling promises to those to whom they are made, as well as His threats against the unrepentant (Matt 5:18; 24:35; Mark 13:31). 2. Strive to acquire and maintain a deep sense of the nature of sin and its soul-destroying effects on your heart. Be convinced that it is the only enemy of God, and that no one hates or is hated by God except through sin. (1.) Remember that it turned angels into devils and cast them down from heaven to hell. (2.) Recognize that it is the chain by which they are held and bound for judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6). (3.) Reflect on the fact that it was the reason Adam was expelled from paradise, the cause of the flood that drowned the old world, the catalyst for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by fire from heaven, and the very thing for which Christ shed His blood to redeem you from the curse it brought upon you. It is what will keep you out of heaven forever and ever. (4.) Contemplate the torments of hell. Christ uses that as an argument to keep the heart tender, repeatedly describing the nature and eternal duration of the burning flames and the gnawing of the undying worm that dwells there (Mark 9:43–48).
3. Reflect on death, both in terms of its certainty and the uncertainty of its timing. We are bound to die, we must die; our days are predetermined—the number of our months is with God, though not with us. Even if we could, we cannot extend our lives; even if we possessed a thousand worlds, we could not trade them to prolong our existence (2 Sam 14:14; Job 7:1; 14:1– 5). Remember that you will die only once—I mean only once in
this world. If you do not die well when you depart, you cannot return and die better. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Heb 9:27).
4. Consider the certainty and dreadfulness of the day of judgment, when Christ will sit on His great white throne, when the dead will be raised by the sound of God's trumpet, when the elements, along with heaven and earth, will be engulfed in a burning flame. It is the day when Christ will separate people from one another, just as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. It is the day when the books will be opened, witnesses will be presented, and each person will be judged according to their works. It is the day when heaven's gates will be open to those who will be saved, while the jaws of hell will await those who will be damned (Acts 5:30–31; 10:42; Matt 25:31, 32, 34, 41; Rev 2:11; 1 Cor 15:51; Rev 20:12, 15; 2 Peter 3:7, 10, 12; Rom 2:2, 15, 16; Rev 22:12).
5. Consider that Christ Jesus did not harden His heart against the necessary sorrows He had to endure for the redemption of your soul. No, even though He could have hardened His heart against you in the way of justice and righteousness because you had sinned against Him, He instead awakened Himself, clothed Himself with all pity, compassion, and tender mercies, and did it. In His love and His pity, He saved us. His tender mercies from above have visited us. He loved us and gave Himself for us. Learn, then, from Christ to be tender towards yourself and to strive to keep your heart tender towards God and the salvation of your soul. But to conclude.
VII.
THE APPLICATION
Now let us make some practical use of this doctrine. First, FIRST USE. From the truth of the matter, namely, that the person who truly comes to God has had their heart broken—their heart broken as a prerequisite to coming to Him. This reveals the nature of the bond between sin and the soul, that it is so firm, strong, and inviolable that nothing can break, annul, or void it unless the heart is broken for it. This was true for David; even his new alliance with sin could not be broken until his heart was broken.
It is astonishing to consider how tightly sin grips the souls, spirits, wills, and affections of some individuals. It is more precious to them than heaven, God, the soul itself, and even salvation. This is evident because, though all these things are offered to them on the condition that they abandon their sins, they choose instead to remain in sin, to stand and fall with it. Tell me, sinner, is this not the truth? How many times have heaven and salvation been freely offered to you, if only you would break your alliance with this great enemy of God? Yes, I say, this great enemy of your soul. Yet you have never been able to do it; neither through threat nor promise have you ever been brought to break that alliance.
It is said of Ahab that he sold himself to work wickedness, and in another place, "For your iniquities you have sold yourselves" (1 Kings 21:25; Isa 50:1). But what is this iniquity? It is worthless, indeed, worse than worthless a thousand times over. Yet because it amounts to nothing, we use the term "nothing" to describe it, as God says to the people, "You have sold yourselves for nothing" (Isa 52:3). But, I repeat, how astounding it is that a rational being should make such a
poor bargain. Despite being wise in worldly matters, they become foolish in the weightiest matter. And yet, they continue to proclaim to all passersby that they are such, because they refuse to break their alliance with sin until their hearts are broken for it. Men love darkness rather than light. Indeed, they make it evident that they love darkness, for such a great offer fails to persuade them to abandon it.
SECOND USE. If it is true that the person who truly comes to God has had their heart broken, then it gives us a reason why some people's hearts are broken. It is a reason why God breaks some people's hearts on account of their sin, because He does not want them to die in it, but rather to come to Him and be saved. Behold, in this, God's resolution concerning the salvation of certain individuals! He wants them, He will save them, and He will break their hearts, but He will save them. He will kill them so that they may live; He will wound them so that He may heal them. It appears from our discussion that there is no other way. Fair means, as we say, will not suffice. Good words, a glorious gospel, pleading, entreating with blood and tears will not suffice. People are determined to test God to the utmost. If He wants them, He must pursue them, follow them, apprehend them, hinder them, and even break their bones; otherwise, He will not save them.
Some people think that an invitation, an outward call, or a rational discourse will suffice, but they are greatly mistaken. The Word must be accompanied by a power, an exceedingly great and mighty power, in order to work effectively for the salvation of the soul. I know these things are sufficient to leave people without excuse, but they are not sufficient to bring people back to God. Sin has a hold on them; they have sold themselves to it. The power of the devil has a hold on them; they are captives at his will. Moreover, their will aligns with
sin and the devil, willingly held captive by them. If God does not grant contrition, repentance, or a broken heart for sin, there will not even be a desire in a person to forsake this horrendous alliance and conspiracy against their soul (2 Tim 2:24, 25).
Therefore, individuals are said to be drawn away from these entanglements when they come or are brought to Him (Isa 26:9; John 6:44). Thus, John rightly declares, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us!" Here, cost is expended, effort is expended, labor is expended, repentance is bestowed, and a heart is made sore, wounded, broken, and filled with pain and sorrow for the sake of the soul's salvation.
THIRD USE. This teaches us the value of a broken heart. A broken heart is esteemed by God and counts as more valuable than all external acts of service. A broken heart is necessary for salvation, for coming to Christ for life. The world does not understand it, nor know how to respond to someone with a broken heart. Therefore, they despise it and regard the one who carries it as a foolish, miserable, and lost soul. However, "a broken and a contrite spirit, O God, You will not despise." God takes notice of a broken heart; He chooses it as a companion. He has given His Son the charge to watch over such a person and has promised salvation, as previously demonstrated.
Sinner, have you obtained a broken heart? Has God bestowed a contrite spirit upon you? He has given you what pleases Himself. He has given you a vessel to hold His grace, a heart that earnestly desires salvation—a heart that aligns with His own. True, it is currently painful, sorrowful, penitent, and grieved. It is broken and bleeding, sobbing and sighing, mourning and crying out to God. Well, very well. All of this is because He intends to make you rejoice. He has made you sorrowful on earth so that you may rejoice in heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh" (Matt 5:4; Luke 6:21).
But, soul, be certain that you possess a broken heart. Not all hearts are broken hearts, nor is every heart that appears wounded truly broken. One may be wounded, but not in the heart. One may have another type of wound, but not a broken heart (Acts 7:54; 1 Sam 10:9). We know there is a distinction between a wound in the flesh and a wound in the spirit. Indeed, a person's sin may be wounded, yet their heart remains unbroken. This was true for Pharaoh, Saul, and Ahab. None of them experienced the mercy of a broken heart. Therefore, I warn you to be cautious. Every scratch with a pin, every prick with a thorn, and every blow that God delivers through His Word upon the hearts of sinners does not necessarily break them. God struck Ahab with a blow that made him humble himself, fast, put on sackcloth—a significant act for a king—and go in a lowly manner. Yet his heart was never broken (1 Kings 21:27, 29). What more can I say? Pharaoh and Saul confessed their sins, Judas felt remorse for his actions, Esau sought the blessing with tears. Yet none of them had a truly broken heart or a genuinely contrite spirit. Pharaoh, Saul, and Judas remained Pharaoh, Saul, and Judas. Esau remained Esau. There was no genuine transformation, no complete turning to God, no sincere parting with their sins, no wholehearted flight to lay hold of the hope of glory, even though they experienced some level of conviction (Exo 10:16; 1 Sam 26:21; Matt 27:3; Heb 12:14–17).
The contemplation of these things should loudly call upon us to be careful. Do not mistake something that does not truly resemble a broken and contrite spirit for one on the day of death and judgment. Therefore, seeking soul, let me advise you to do the following, so as not to be deceived in this matter of great importance.
First, return to the beginning of this book and compare yourself with the six or seven signs of a broken and contrite heart that I have presented to you according to the Word of God. Deal with your soul impartially in this examination.
Second, if you are sincere in your search, turn to the Scriptures, especially where you read about the conversion of individuals, and see if your own conversion bears resemblance to theirs. But be cautious not to compare yourself with those whose conversion is not recorded in Scripture or whose broken hearts are not mentioned. Not all saints mentioned in Scripture have their conversion explicitly described.
Third, consider the true signs of repentance as laid down in Scripture. Repentance is the genuine effect of a broken heart and a wounded spirit. You can find references to this in Matthew 3:5, 6; Luke 18:13; 19:8; Acts 2:37–40, 16:29, 30, 19:18, 19; 2 Corinthians 7:8–11.
Fourth, reflect on how God has described the condition of those whom He intends to save. Read the following Scriptures: (1) Jeremiah 31, where it says, "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them" (v. 9). (2) Jeremiah 50:4, 5, which speaks of the children of Israel seeking the Lord with weeping and asking the way to Zion. (3) Ezekiel 6:9, where it mentions those who remember God and loathe themselves for their sins. (4) Ezekiel 7:16, which describes those who mourn for their iniquities. (5) Ezekiel 20:43, where it speaks of remembering past sins and loathing oneself for them. (6) Ezekiel 36:31, which speaks of remembering evil ways and loathing oneself for iniquities and abominations. (7) Zechariah 12:10, where it says that those whom God has poured His spirit of
grace and supplication upon will mourn and be in bitterness, looking upon Him whom they have pierced.
By engaging in these exercises, you can safeguard yourself from being deceived regarding this matter of great significance.
Now all these are the fruits of the Spirit of God and of a broken heart. Therefore, soul, take note of them. These are the promises of God, assuring that those He saves will have this heart, this spirit, and these holy effects within them. Therefore, once again, consider and examine yourself to see if this is the state and condition of your soul. To do so thoroughly, remember and do the following:
1. Acknowledge the profound sense of sin and its burdensome nature, which leads you not only to abhor sin but also to abhor yourself because of it. Take note of this, for it is significant. 2. Remember that along with self-abhorrence, there is sorrowful mourning before God, acknowledging that by sin the soul has offended, disregarded, and neglected both God and His holy Word. 3. Remember that prayers and tears for mercy accompany a genuine desire to turn away from sin forever and to be firmly united with God in heart and soul. 4. Remember that these individuals, on their journey from Satan to God, from sin to grace, from death to life, are accompanied by tears, prayers, weeping, and supplication. They go forth weeping, seeking the Lord their God. 5. Remember that these people, like strangers and pilgrims, are not ashamed to seek guidance from those they encounter on the way to Zion or the heavenly country. By doing so, they confess their ignorance as fitting, and express their longing to know the path to life. This reveals that nothing in this world, under the
sun or on this side of heaven, can satisfy the longings, desires, and cravings of a broken and contrite spirit. Reader, take heed and seriously consider these things. Compare your soul with them and with whatever else you find written here for your conviction and instruction.
FOURTH USE. If a broken heart and a contrite spirit are highly valued by God, then those who possess them should be encouraged to come to God with confidence. I know the greatest encouragement for people to come to God is the fact that "there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5). This is indeed the primary encouragement, and there is none like it. However, there are other encouragements that are subordinate to it, and a broken and contrite spirit is one of them. This is evident from several passages in Scripture.
Therefore, you who can carry a broken heart and a sorrowful spirit with you when you approach God, tell Him that your heart is wounded within you, that you have sorrow in your heart, and that you are remorseful for your sins. But be cautious not to lie. Confess your sins to Him and acknowledge that they are constantly before you. David used these arguments when he approached God in prayer. He said, "O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure." And why did he say this? Oh, he said, "Your arrows pierce me deeply, and Your hand presses me down. There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds are foul and festering because of my foolishness. I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. For my loins are full of inflammation, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the
turmoil of my heart. Lord, all my desire is before You; and my sighing is not hidden from You. My heart pants,my strength fails me; even the light of my eyes has gone from me. My loved ones and friends stand aloof from my affliction." And he continues in this manner (Psa 38:1–4, etc.).
These words, sighs, complaints, prayers, and arguments are expressions of a broken heart pleading with God for mercy. Such words can be found in the following passage: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me" (Psa 51:1–3).
God allows poor creatures who can honestly plead and reason with Him in this manner. "I am poor and sorrowful," said the righteous man to Him, "let Your salvation, O God, set me on high" (Psa 69:29). Therefore, you who possess a broken heart, take courage, for God invites you to take courage. Say to your soul, "Why are you cast down, O my soul?" as the broken-hearted often do. "And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God." "I would have lost heart," David said, "unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." So, be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart (Psa 42:11; 43:5; 27:12–14).
But alas! The broken-hearted are far from this. They faint; they consider themselves among the dead; they believe that God will not remember them anymore. Thoughts of God's greatness, holiness, and their own sins and unworthiness consume them. They feel guilt and soul anguish, mourning throughout the day. Their mouths are filled with gravel and gall, and they drink the bitter cup of
wormwood and gall. Therefore, only those skilled in faith can approach God under the weight of guilt and horror and confidently plead that a broken heart is a sacrifice acceptable to Him. They can confidently claim that "a broken and a contrite spirit, God will not despise."
FIFTH USE. If a broken heart, if a broken and contrite spirit, is highly valued by God, then why are some individuals so afraid of a broken heart and so hesitant about having a contrite spirit?
I have observed that some people are as fearful of a broken heart, or of their hearts being broken because of their sins, as a dog is of a whip. Oh, they cannot tolerate such books, sermons, preachers, or conversations that make a person aware of their sins, break their hearts, and make them contrite. As a result, they seek out teachers, books, company, and discourse that harden rather than soften them, that lead to desperation rather than sorrow for their sins. They say to such sermons, books, and preachers what Amaziah said to Amos, "Go, flee away to the land of Judah; eat bread there and prophesy there, but never prophesy again at Bethel, for it is the king's sanctuary and the royal residence" (Amos 7:12-13).
But do these people know what they are doing? Yes, they think so, for they believe that such preachers, books, and discussions make them melancholic or mad. They make it impossible for them to find pleasure in themselves, in their concerns, or in their lives. But, oh, you foolish one! Let me speak to you. Is it time to take pleasure and amuse yourself before you have mourned and felt sorry for your sins? That mirth that precedes repentance for sin will surely end in heaviness. Therefore, the wise man says that mourning must come first. There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). What? Shall an unconverted
person laugh? If you saw someone singing merry songs while being led up Holborn to Tyburn to be hanged for a crime, would you not consider them to be out of their mind, if not worse? Yet, that is how it is with someone who seeks mirth while they are condemned by God's Word for their transgressions. Man! Man! You have reason to mourn; indeed, you must mourn if you ever want to be saved. Therefore, my advice to you is to desire such books, preachers, and discussions that make a person aware of their sins, break their hearts, and make them contrite. The reason is that you will never be truly concerned about or seek the salvation of your own soul until you have a broken heart and a broken and contrite spirit. Therefore, do not be afraid of a broken heart; do not shy away from a contrite spirit. It is one of the greatest mercies that God bestows upon a man or a woman. A heart that is genuinely broken and truly contrite over transgressions is a sure sign of salvation. This is evident from the six demonstrations that were initially presented to prove this point.
And to awaken you to this matter, let me tell you, and you will find it to be true, that your heart will be broken whether you like it or not. God has determined to break ALL hearts for sin sooner or later. Can it be imagined, considering what sin is and who God is—a punisher of disobedience—that a person will not suffer for sin at some point? They will indeed suffer, either to repentance or to condemnation. One who does not mourn now while the door of mercy is open will mourn for sin when the door of mercy is shut.
Shall people despise God, break His law, disregard His warnings, abuse His grace, close their eyes when He says "See" and stop their ears when He says "Hear"? And do they think they can escape? No, because they rejected His call and ignored His outstretched hand, calamity will come upon them like labor pains, and they will cry out in their destruction. Then God will laugh at their destruction and
mock them when their fear comes. As He says, "They will call out to me" (Proverbs 1:24-26). I have often noticed that this threat is repeated at least seven times in the New Testament, saying, "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth," "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30; Luke 13:28). There, where? In hell and at the judgment seat of Christ, when He comes to judge the world and has closed the door to keep them out of glory because they despised the offer of His grace and overlooked the day of His patience. "There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." They will weep and wail because of this.
There are only two more scriptures that I will use, and then I will come to a conclusion. One is from Proverbs, where Solomon advises young men to beware of strange, that is, immoral, light, and ensnaring women. He warns them to be cautious of such women, lest they mourn in the end, in hell, when they are dead, when their flesh and bodies are consumed, and say, "How I have hated instruction and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!" (Proverbs 5:11-13).
The other scripture is from Isaiah, where it is said, "Because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did evil in my sight and chose what displeased me. Therefore, this is what the Lord God says: 'Behold, my servants will eat, but you will go hungry; behold, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; behold, my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame; behold, my servants will sing for joy of heart, but you will cry for sorrow of heart and wail with a broken spirit'" (Isaiah 65:13-14).
Look at how many "beholds" there are! Each behold is not only a call to the careless ones to consider, but it also serves as a declaration
from heaven that this will eventually be the fate of all unrepentant sinners. When others sing for joy in the kingdom of heaven, they, the unrepentant sinners, will mourn in hell and wail with a broken spirit.
Therefore, I advise you not to be afraid of, but rather to desire a broken heart and value a contrite spirit. I say, desire it now, when the white flag is raised and the golden sceptre of grace is extended to you. It is better to mourn now when God inclines towards mercy and forgiveness than to mourn when the door is completely closed. And take note that this is not the first time I have given you this advice.
USE SIXTH. Lastly, if a broken heart is highly valued by God as it has been said, and if duties cannot be performed rightly by a heart that has not been broken, then this reveals the futility of those people's minds and the invalidity of their supposed Divine services who worship God without a broken heart and without a contrite spirit. There have always been great numbers of such professing individuals in the world in every age, but to little purpose, except to deceive themselves, mock God, and hinder others. For a person whose heart has never truly been broken and whose spirit has never been contrite cannot genuinely profess Christ, nor can they sincerely love their own soul. I mean, they cannot do these things in truth and seek their own well-being in the right way because they lack a foundation for it—a broken heart for sin and a contrite spirit.
What makes a person a wholehearted, genuine, and sincere seeker of their own soul's good is the sense of sin and a godly fear of falling into the danger it brings. This makes them contrite or repentant and compels them to seek Christ the Savior with heartfelt anguish and consideration. But this cannot happen where there is a lack of this sense, godly fear, and holy contrition. People may profess and make a noise, just as an empty barrel makes the loudest sound, but test
them and you will find them full of air, full of emptiness, and that is all.
Such professing individuals are not concerned about God's name or the reputation of the gospel they profess, nor can they be, for they lack what should bind them to it—a sense of pardon and forgiveness, by which their broken hearts have been replenished, comforted, and given hope in God. Paul said that the love of Christ constrained him. But what was Paul if not a broken-hearted and contrite sinner? (Acts 9:3–6; 2 Corinthians 5:14). When God reveals to a person the sins they have committed, the hell they deserve, and the heaven they have lost, and yet presents Christ, grace, and pardon as available to them, this will make them serious, melt their hearts, and break them. This will show them that there is more to religion than just air, noise, and empty words. And this is the person whose heart, life, and entire conduct will be engaged in matters concerning the eternal salvation of their precious and immortal soul.
VIII.
OBJECTIONS ANSWERED
Objection: First. Some may object that in this statement I appear too strict and judgmental, and if I don't moderate these words with something milder afterwards, I will discourage many an honest soul. Answer: I respond, Not at all, not a single honest soul in the entire world will be offended by my words; for no one can be an honest soul, I mean concerning their concerns in the afterlife, without
having a broken heart, without ever having a contrite spirit. I will clarify, so I am understood correctly, that not everyone reaches the same degree of distress, nor do they linger in it as long as some of their brethren do. However, to go to heaven without a broken heart, or to have sins forgiven without a contrite spirit, is not a belief of mine. We are not discussing what is hidden; revealed things belong to us and our children; nor should we dare to go beyond our faith. Doesn't Christ say, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician'; that is, they don't see the need, but Christ will make them see their need before he extends his sovereign grace to them; and rightly so, otherwise he will receive little gratitude for his kindness.
Objection: Second. But there are those who are raised in a godly manner from their childhood and therefore absorb the principles of Christianity without even realizing it. Answer: I consider it one thing to receive the faith of Christ solely from human beings, and another to receive it from God through the means. Even if you are taught by an angel, if you are not taught by God, you will never come to Christ; I am not saying you will never profess him. But if God speaks, and you hear and understand him, that voice will stir something within you like never before. The voice of God is unique and distinguished by those who are taught by it (John 6:44, 45; Psalm 29; Habakkuk 3:12–16; Ephesians 4:20, 21; 1 Peter 2:2, 3).
Objection: Third. But some people are not as debauched and profane as others, so they don't need to be hammered and fired, broken and wounded, as others do. Answer: God knows best what we need. Paul was as righteous before his conversion as anyone who now claims to be civilized, I believe; and yet, even so, he was shaken and astonished at himself during his conversion. And truly, I think the more righteous a person is in their own eyes before conversion, the more they need the work of a broken heart in order to be saved; because a
person is not naturally as easily convinced that their righteousness is abominable to God as they are convinced of their debauchery and profanity.
A person's goodness is what blinds them the most, is most dear to them, and is not easily let go of. Therefore, when such a person is converted, who believes they have enough of their own goodness to commend themselves, either wholly or in part, to God, but there are few such converted individuals, a great deal of heart-breaking work is required to make them come to the same conclusion as Paul: "What! Are we better than they? No, not at all" (Romans 3:9). I mean, they must be brought to see that their glorious robes are filthy rags, and their gainful things are but loss and rubbish (Isaiah 64; Philippians 3).
This is also evident from the words: "Tax collectors and prostitutes enter the kingdom of God before the Pharisees" (Matthew 21:31). Why before them? It's because they are more receptive to the Word, more easily convinced of their need for Christ, and are thus brought to him without all the fuss that the Holy Spirit makes to bring one of the Pharisees to him, so to speak.
True, nothing is difficult for God. But I am speaking in human terms. Let anyone try to convince a morally corrupt person and a noncorrupt person that they are both in a state of condemnation by nature, and they will see that the Pharisee will appeal to God, saying, "God, I thank you"; while the tax collector hangs his head, is shaken in his heart, and beats his breast, saying, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:11–13).
Therefore, a self-righteous person is like a painted Satan or a devil in fine clothes. But does he think so of himself? No! No! He says to others, "Stand back, do not come near me, for I am holier than you."
It is almost impossible for a self-righteous person to be saved. But the one who can pass a camel through the eye of a needle can also make such a person see their lost condition and realize their need for the righteousness of God, which comes through faith in Jesus Christ. He can make them see, I mean, that their own goodness obstructs their path to the kingdom of heaven more than they are aware of. And he can also make them feel that their attachment to their own goodness is as great an iniquity as any immorality committed by others. In summary, those who are converted to God by Christ, through the Word and the Spirit—for all of this is necessary for effective conversion—must have their hearts broken and their spirits contrite. I mean, it MUST be so for the reasons shown earlier. Yes, even Christians who have fallen away, backslidden, or decayed must have their hearts broken, their souls wounded, their spirits contrite, and be sorrowful for their sins in order to be restored to God.
Come, come, conversion to God is not as easy and smooth as some would have you believe. Why is the human heart compared to fallow ground, God's Word to a plough, and his ministers to ploughmen? If the heart had no need of breaking in order to receive the seed of God for eternal life, why would this comparison be made? Everyone knows that fallow ground must be ploughed thoroughly before the farmer will risk sowing his seed, and even after that, it must be harrowed soundly, or else the harvest will be meagre.
Why is the conversion of the soul compared to grafting a tree if it can be done without cutting? The Word is the graft, the soul is the tree, and the Word, as the scion, must be let in through a wound. Simply sticking it on the outside or tying it with a string will not be effective here. Heart must be joined to heart, and back to back, or the pretended grafting will amount to nothing (Romans 11:17, 24; Jeremiah 1:19).
I mean, heart must be joined to heart, and back to back, in order for the sap to flow from the root to the branch, and I say, this can only be done through a wound. The Lord opened Lydia's heart just as a stock is opened to graft in the scions, and so the Word entered her soul, and her heart and the Word became one (Acts 16:14).
Why is Christ commanded to gird his sword upon his thigh? Why must he make his arrows sharp so that they pierce the heart and make it bleed? Yes, why is he commanded to do so if the people would willingly submit to him and sincerely implore his grace without it? (Psalm 45; 55:3, 4). Alas! People are too proud, too wild, too stubborn in their own ways of destruction; in their pursuits, they are like wild donkeys in the wilderness. Nothing can deter them from their purposes or prevent them from ruining their own precious and immortal souls except the breaking of their hearts.
Why is a broken heart regarded as a substitute for all sacrifices we can offer to God, and a contrite spirit regarded as a substitute for all offerings, as you can see if you compare the text with the preceding verse? I mean, why is it considered better than all the external acts of worship combined? If any one part or even all the external parts of worship were able to make a person a sound and truly renewed creature without a broken heart, then it would render a broken heart unnecessary. "A broken heart, a contrite spirit, God will not despise." But he will certainly disregard both you and your worship if, when you come to him, a broken heart is absent. So here is the point: Come broken, come contrite, come aware of and sorrowful for your sins, or your coming will not be considered a true coming to God. And if that is the case, you will not benefit from it.
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The Acceptable Sacrifice, by john Bunyan. Copyright © 2023
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